Game Design Deep Dive

Dan Bullock

Dan Bullock interviews game designers with a focus on the challenges of historical board game design.

42 Episodes

Interview with Kevin Bertram
10/26/2026
57:58
Our guest today is Kevin Bertram, game designer, publisher, and raconteur. We discuss his designs Shores of Tripoli and Halls of Montezuma as well as what distinguishes the games being released at Fort Circle. Fort Circle Games – Creating fun, easy to learn, historical board games.Outro music: "Gazebo Tree" Kristin HershSend us Fan Mail
Painkillers with Brooks Barber
10/19/2026
44:38
For this episode, we chat with Brooks Barber, designer of Sykes-Picot (Hollandspiele) and his upcoming game Painkillers, which is being published by his new company Hawk & Dove. We discuss his Brooks' appetite for challenging historical topics and how it informs both his designs and what Hawk & Dove intends to publish. Hawk and Dove Games https://www.hawkanddovegames.com/Outro music: "Money Folder (Four Tet Remix)" - MadvillainSend us Fan Mail
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Chalice of Poison with Akar Bharadvaj
5/26/2026
50:08
Akar Bharadvaj is designer of the upcoming game Chalice of Poison about the Iran-Iraq War from GMT and the Zenobia Award-Winning Tyranny of Blood. We chat about both designs, the future of the Zenobia awards, and much more. Hellcouch designed by Carol Mertz and Francesca Caletto-Leon also came up in conversation, and we are all about giving credit where due. Outro music: Lifeguard "It Will Get Worse"Send us Fan Mail
Love This Giant with Cole Wehrle
4/24/2026
1:17:51
We welcome back Cole Wehrle (who hopefully needs no introduction) for a wide ranging discussion about expansions, Buried Giant- his new publishing home, and much much more. Outro music: "King's Army" The Scarring Party Send us Fan Mail
Interview with Liz Davidson
2/23/2026
57:30
Liz Davidson has co-designed Queen of Spies and the forthcoming Night Witches with David Thompson. She is also the Creative Director at Leder Games, but you may know her best for her work on her Bobby Nunez-award winning Beyond Solitaire podcast. We chat about her work at Leder, her historical design work, and the transition from game critic to game designer. Note: This episode is tagged explicit solely for cussing. Outro Music: Jonny Fritz "Debbie Downers"Send us Fan Mail
Come Out Fighting with John Carnahan
11/29/2025
27:25
Our guest is designer John Carnahan. His latest, Come Out Fighting will be on Kickstarter on November 30th. I am not sure how many listeners have dipped their toe in miniature games, but I had to invite John to discuss his latest design, because it incorporates something extraordinary and radical in that space. Come Out Fighting on BGGCome Out Fighting on KickstarterOutro Music: Gene Autry "Don't Fence Me In"Send us Fan Mail
Live from SD HistCon: Narrative in Solitaire Games
11/19/2025
1:01:59
Recorded live at SD HistCon, our esteemed panel was comprised of designers John Butterfield (RAF, Enemy Action Series, D-Day Omaha, Ambush), David Thompson (Valiant Defense Series, War Story, Undaunted), and Jeremy White (Skies Above Series, Enemy Coast Ahead Series, Atlantic Chase). We discuss embedded vs emergent narrative in historical games and how one leverage mechanisms to achieve the desired play experience in solitaire design. Outro music: Might Hannibal "All Nite Long"Send us Fan Mail
Radical Rulebooks with Greg Loring-Albright, PhD
9/25/2025
46:50
Greg Loring-Albright is the designer of Ahoy, Keep the Faith, and co-designed Bloc by Bloc: Uprising with T.L. Simmons. Moreover, he teaches Game Studies and Game Design at Harrisburg University. We discuss his recent zine RULEBOOKS FOR RADICALS on the importance of designing games in dire times. Outro music: Radioactivity "Time Won't Bring Me Down" Send us Fan Mail
Trench Raid with Lisa Smedman
8/22/2025
53:02
Lisa Smedman is a best-selling author, journalist, and designer of many RPG games and modules. We discuss Trench Raid, her first solitaire tabletop wargame for Compass, the tactical approach to the topic of WW1, and the relationship between serious games and design intent. Trench Raid from Compass GamesOutro music: "Kingdom Come" by Cindy Lee Cindy Lee is marvelous! Go check out Diamond Jubilee by Cindy Lee here: https://cindylee.bandcamp.com/album/diamond-jubileeSend us Fan Mail
Interview with Fred Serval
7/14/2025
1:00:42
In this episode, a proper interview with Fred Serval, designer of A Gest of Robin Hood, Red Flag Over Paris, and A Very Civil Whist. Fred is also the host of an excellent channel dedicated to historical tabletop gaming, Homo Ludens. We discuss his design approach and how it informs critique of other games.Outro music: "All Good Things Will Come to Pass" - Lael NealeSend us Fan Mail

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Game Design Deep Dive

Dan Bullock

42 Episodes

Interview with Kevin Bertram

Painkillers with Brooks Barber

Chalice of Poison with Akar Bharadvaj

Love This Giant with Cole Wehrle

Interview with Liz Davidson

Come Out Fighting with John Carnahan

Live from SD HistCon: Narrative in Solitaire Games

Radical Rulebooks with Greg Loring-Albright, PhD

Trench Raid with Lisa Smedman

Interview with Fred Serval